March 26, 2008

Cool Cities Campaign Picks Up Steam in Colorado

In March, the Sierra Club's Cool Cities team hosted a training at REI's new community center in Boulder, Colorado. Forty-three volunteers from as far away as Pueblo, Grand Junction, and Laramie, Wyoming, spent the day learning how to make their hometown a Cool City, how to implement a climate action plan, and how to build alliances with like-minded communities. Below, Cool Cities coordinator Colleen Sarna talks about how volunteers can get involved locally.

Former Boulder mayor Mark Ruzzin, now regional director for ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability), spoke about his experience implementing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in Boulder and how ICLEI and the Sierra Club can work together. Upcoming Cool City, Cool County, and Cool State opportunities were discussed, with examples provided by volunteer leaders Jenny Kedward and Bob Millette. Late in the day, participants broke into four geographical groups to formulate action plans for grassroots organizing and recruitment, contacting mayors and county officials, and building alliances.

"This training will really help activate new volunteers and team leaders in both our Cool Cities and Partnerships programs," says Colorado Sierra Club organizer Roger Singer, below, who co-moderated the event with fellow staffer Katie Ryder.

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